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Terrorism suspect balks at standing up in Boston court

E-mail|Link|Comments () October 21, 2009 06:07 PM

By Shelley Murphy, Globe Staff

Terrorism suspect Tarek Mehanna appeared visibly angry when he appeared this afternoon at a brief bail hearing before US Magistrate Judge Leo Sorokin in federal court in Boston.

Sorokin told the bearded Mehanna, who was dressed in black sweatpants and a black hooded sweatshirt, to stand up while he explained the charges and what his rights were, but Mehanna initially refused.

"I prefer not to," he said.

"Fine," said Sorokin.

"I'd prefer not to stand, if that's OK," Mehanna said.

Mehanna's father, who was in the front row, then said, "Stand up!"

Mehanna stood up sharply, deliberately knocking the chair behind him.

Within minutes, four deputy US marshals joined the two Joint Terrorism Task Force agents who had originally brought the shackled Mehanna in.

Mehanna was represented by lawyer Jay Carney in his previous case. "Do you want him to continue to represent you?" Sorokin asked.

"Obviously," Mehanna said.

Sorokin ordered Mehanna held without bail until a detention hearing on Oct. 30.

Mehanna's father began to say after the hearing that he didn't believe the charges, but declined to comment further on the advice of a lawyer. Three young men also attended the hearing to support Mehanna, but they had no comment.